This was said to be the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July 2024, and just as peace efforts are coming to a head.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack, that he was cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city reeled from the bombardment that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours.

Zelenskyy said this appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months and called it one of Russia’s “most outrageous.’’

The attack drew a rare rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he was “not happy” with it.

“Not necessary, and terrible timing. Vladimir, STOP!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

However, senior U.S. officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon give up its efforts to stop the war if the two sides don’t compromise.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning in the capital.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine.

Rescue workers with flashlights scoured the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles lit up the dark city streets.

The attack came as weeks of peace negotiations appeared to culminate without an agreement.

Reports also said the attack came hours after Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy.

Trump had accused him of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a possible deal. (AP/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed/Mark Longyen